Kolby Branch hit 50 home runs during his three collegiate seasons at Georgia, but his last one might end up being his most special.
Sure, it didn’t change the outcome of Wednesday night’s Men’s College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., where the Bulldogs’ season came to an end with an 11-4 loss to Oklahoma. But given the circumstances, it was one to remember.
Branch, Georgia’s starting shortstop, led off the bottom of the ninth with his school trailing by eight runs and needing two straight wins to advance. He jumped on a 2-2 pitch for a no-doubt home run to left-center field that traveled an estimated 401 feet.
Not only did Branch bring an excellent college career to a close, but he did it in front of his younger brother, Kyle -- Oklahoma’s second baseman. Even though it was his squad giving up the homer (which proved not to matter, as the Sooners advanced to face North Carolina in the MCWS championship series), Kyle lit up when he saw Kolby’s dinger soaring out of the yard. The two even exchanged a high-five as Kolby rounded second base.
And of course, in the stands, the two brothers’ parents, Kari and Rusty, were overcome by emotion.
"Maybe the coolest thing was when Kolby hit the last home run and his brother gave him high five, we were too busy crying to see it," Rusty said.
"We were saying goodbye to the team and the umpires came out and introduced themselves," Rusty said. "They said we'd like to bring you back and they said we don't ever do this but we thought this was a cool enough event and they gave us the lineup cards for both teams."
The Branch family will have something physical to remember this moment by, and while Kolby's home run was the last great moment of his college career, Kyle looks to end his sophomore season with a national championship.
"It's bittersweet, but we're appreciative and proud of them," Rusty said. "We're hurting for one and we're real excited for the second."